Policy making involving science, technology and innovation can pose a dilemma for society. Technology assessment (TA) initiatives aim to address this dilemma at national, European, and global levels. One such initiative PACITA was recently outlined to the Minister for Research & Innovation, Mr Seán Sherlock when he visited UCC.
PACITA is a European project of which the Financial Services Innovation Centre (FSIC) in UCC is a partner. The FSIC is located in the university’s Business Information Systems (BIS) group and it is a leading research centre in the business area in Ireland.
Mr JB McCarthy, Director at the FSIC, explained that “PACITA stands for ‘Parliaments and Civil Society in Technology Assessment’ and focuses on sharing knowledge, experience and reflection concerning parliamentary TA practices. It is a large-scale four year cross-European project financed under the 7th Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Partners include institutions that are world leaders in this space”.
Professor Fredric Adam, BIS & FSIC, explained: “The main objective of the project is to enhance the institutional foundation at national and European levels for knowledge-based policy-making on issues involving science, technology and innovation. Technology assessment must provide comprehensive insights on both the opportunities and consequences of technology adoption and non-adoption, by facilitating democratic processes of debate and clarification, and by formulating policy options”.
Congratulating the research centre on its recent successes with European FP7 projects and its role on the PACITA project, Minister Sherlock said, “The awarding of a contract such as this to the Financial Services Innovation Centre is evidence of the leading role that Ireland can play in pushing the need for a balanced agenda on questions of science and technology. This project can make an important contribution through opening up an active discussion here in Ireland and in Europe on how politicians, scientists, and citizens can work together in addressing these important questions for the benefit of the society of both today and tomorrow. I look forward to working with this initiative”.
Dr Paidi O’Reilly, FSIC, explained how over the coming months the PACITA project would be organising two workshops in Dublin to be attended by European experts in this area. He invited individuals and parties interested in this initiative or in attending the workshops to contact him for further details at p.oreilly@ucc.ie
Further details of the PACITA project can be found at www.pacitaproject.eu.
Picture L-R: Seán Sherlock T.D Minister for Research & Innovation (left) with Professor Fredric Adam, UCC and Dr Paidi O’Reilly, UCC who are both involved in the PACITA project.
